Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Facing a 2-0 deficit, Southeastern Louisiana scored four runs in the final two innings to rally for a 4-2 victory over Incarnate Word and complete the Southland Conference softball series sweep of the Cardinals Saturday afternoon at Cardinals Field.
The Lady Lions (17-12, 3-3 Southland) have changed their fortunes over the last four days, going 5-0 after entering the week on an eight-game losing streak. The sweep of Incarnate Word, which opened league play by taking two of three from preseason league favorite and defending Southland Tournament champion Northwestern State last week, dropped the Cardinals to 10-17 overall and 2-4 in league play.
Senior
Taylor Bishop (9-7) came in to relieve junior
Kasey Nielson in the first inning and allowed one run in a full seven innings of work. Senior
Amber Sather, sophomore
Grace DeLee and junior
Mychal Truxillo each had two hits and an RBI for the Lady Lions in Saturday's win. DeLee, senior
Katie Lacour, sophomore
Kinsey Nichols and sophomore
Peyton Sutton all scored runs for Southeastern.
Incarnate Word took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, chasing Nielson with a pair of singles to lead off the inning. Bishop would enter the game and allow an RBI single by junior Mikaela Flores to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
UIW threatened to pad the lead in the bottom of the second inning, loading the bases with one out. Bishop was unfazed, retiring junior Alex Alonzo and Flores to keep Southeastern within a run.
The Cardinals added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Flores hit the first pitch of the inning over the right field fence to give UIW a 2-0 advantage.
Southeastern left runners on in four of the first five innings before finally breaking through in its half of the sixth. Nichols beat out an infield single, then Sather plated her with a double to centerfield. Sutton came in to run for Sather and stole third, scoring the tying run when junior Brigitte Gauvin's throw missed the mark.
With the momentum on their side, the Lady Lions took the lead for good in the seventh inning. Lacour reached on an error, stole second and scored the go-ahead run when DeLee singled her home. DeLee would move to second on a single by Sather and gave Southeastern a 4-2 advantage when Truxillo dropped a single into right field.
That was more than enough for Bishop. The Lady Lion ace from Sugar Land, Texas retired the side on three pitches in the bottom of the seventh to secure the sweep.
Southeastern will be back in action on Tuesday, traveling to Mississippi State for a 5 p.m. contest in Starkville, Mississippi.
